A parachute for pillow, the wing for sunbed: an Italian Air Force’s serviceman taking advantage of a respite’s moment during the combats on North Africa to sunbathe over the wing of a MC.202 fighter aircraft of 73rd Squadriglia of 4th Stormo. The photo, Libya, 1942, show also many details of rear section of this Italian fighter. Victor Sierra

A wing for sunbed

On 10 September 1943, two days after the announcement of Italy’s Armistice, as the German begin the Italy’s occupation not again conquered by Allies and the capture of Italian armed forces, two Regia Aeronautica’s servicemen, an officer pilot and a NCO, escaped in Switzerland with a Saiman 202M, a single engine two-seat light liaison aircraft, of 234th Squadriglia, 60th Gruppo, 41st Stormo Caccia. The two pilots took off from Venegono, near Varese, Norther Italy, and landed near Bellinzona, at Magadino Airport (in the photo the aircraft after the land in Switzerland). Afterwards the plane, military code MM51136, was transferred to Zurich-Kloten and was returned to Italians on January 1947. The two pilots, interned in Switzerland, came back in Italy just after the war’s end. Victor Sierra

Escape in Switzerland

A photo like the prior, perhaps the same from another frame. Note the sand filter on the engine cowling, always on the left hand side, and the two camouflage’s different types, sign of MC.202s built by two different manufactures. The propeller spin white was characteristic of MC.202s employed in North Africa. In background a transport aircraft SM.82 of 604th Squadriglia SAS-Servizi Aerei Speciali (Special Air Services). Victor Sierra